Play the Bass Guitar

Bass guitar is the harmonic backbone of a musical group or ensemble. Good bass players are invaluable musicians, effortless bridging the drums and guitars to form a grooving, danceable, and melodic beat. Getting started on the bass isn't hard, but mastering it takes a lifetime.

Note: This article covers the electric bass and acoustic-electric bass guitar, not the double bass, which is the large, upright wooden bass played in orchestras and jazz groups.

Steps

Beginning with the Basics

1. Learn the parts of the bass guitar. If you want to play the bass guitar, you need to understand how to talk about it. A bass is a relatively simple instrument, but knowing the vocabulary is essential:
   • Body: The big part of the bass that rests on your lap or along your stomach. It contains the hardware needed to make sound.
   • Neck: The long, segmented section that the strings run along.
   • Head: The top of the bass, where the strings are locked in. It holds the tuning pegs, which you turn to tune.
   • Frets: The segmented sections on the neck. Each fret represents the location of a different note.
   • Bridge: The area on the body that the strings are locked into. It is at the opposite end as the head.
   • Pick-ups: On electric basses, these are the little rectangular bars in the center of the body. They transmit the sounds you're playing to an amplifier.
2. Sit upright with the body comfortably in your lap. It is easiest to play while sitting, but if you have a strap you should use it to take some of the weight off. Lay the body lightly in your lap with the neck pointing to your non-dominant hand. So, if you're right-handed, you hold the neck and frets with your left hand.
   • Feel free to experiment with a comfortable height. It should be roughly between your collarbones and hips, but you can adjust it within this range.
   • You want both arms to be loose and relaxed, elbows slightly bent.
   • If you're right handed, your right forearm can rest on the top of the body. Just make sure your thumb, middle finger, and index finger can comfortably reach all four strings.
3. Know the names and notes of all four strings. Of course, there are basses with five, six, or even more strings, but beginners almost always start on a 4-string bass. On guitars, the strings count upwards, meaning the first string is the closest to the ground when you're playing. The thickest string on top is the fourth string. So, looking at a guitar from the front, the strings would look like:
   • 4th String: E
   • 3rd String: A
   • 2nd String: D
   • 1st String: G
4. Alternate your index and middle fingers to pluck the strings. When you alternate fingers, each only has to do half the work, meaning you can often play twice as quickly. To play a note, keep a relaxed, straight wrist, with your fingers draping down the strings. Pluck the strings with your index and middle fingers like you were "walking" them on the strings.
   • Keep your hand as still as possible.
   • You don't have to pull hard, just enough to sound out clearly through your amplifier.
   • Work on smoothly, consistently alternating fingers without any hiccups or dull notes.
5. Learn what notes each fret represents. Luckily, this doesn't require memorization once you've learned how the notes work. Remember how musical notes move -- A, A♯, B, C, C♯, D, D♯, E, F, F♯, G, G♯, A. Each fret simply moves you one step down the line. So, on the 4th string, the thickest string, no fret at all is an E. The first fret is an F, the second fret an F♯, and so on down the neck.
   • The most important thing to remember is that there is no such thing as E♯ or B♯. You simply skip right to F and right to C.
6. Use a few tricks, like octaves, to help learn notes across the fretboard. To help learn notes, know that any note two frets and two strings down is the same note. So, the 4th string, 3rd fret and the 2nd string, 5th fret are both Gs, though the second on is a higher pitch called an "octave." Octaves make learning notes much easier.
   • A note one string down and five frets backward is an identical note. So, the 4th string, 7th fret is an B, as is the 3rd string, 2nd fret. They should sound almost identical.
7. Press a string right behind the fret to sound out the note. If you need to play the 2nd fret, you press the string down in between the 2nd and 3rd frets. You don't need to play right on top of the fret. The closer you can get to the fret, however, the better the note will sound, so you want to be right behind the 2nd fret to get the best tone.
   • As you get started, you'll find it hard to always land right behind the fret. Practice a finger position that gets you a smooth note without buzzing and the speed will come later.
8. Fret with the outside edge of your fingertips. Feel your fingertips, noticing the hard area right near the edge of your fingernail. This is the best place to hold the strings, just a bit to the outside of the fleshy fingertip. Because it is a bit harder of an area, you won't have to press quite so hard on the frets to get a good sound.
9. Read tablature to learn almost any song for free off the internet. This is a good way to get comfortable playing. Tablature also called "tab" is a simple, web-friendly way of writing out guitar and bass parts. Almost any song you could ever want to learn is available online by searching "My Song Bass Tab." Furthermore, learning the system is easy: each line represents a string, and the numbers on it tell you what fret to play. The following example would play the 2nd fret on the 4th string three times, then the 4th fret on the 2nd string three times:
   • G|-----------------------------|
   • D|----------------4--4--4----|
   • A|-----------------------------|
   • E|----2--2--2----------------|

Playing Along with Songs and Bands

1. Play along to any song by following the root notes of each chord. If you don't know the root notes or chords, just ask. For example, say the song's chords are G, C, and then D. You want to play a G when the guitarist plays a G, a C with his C, and switch to D when he switches to D. If you're just getting started, this works for more complex chords too -- you could play the same three notes if the chords were G7, C7, and D7.
   • For beginners, just focus on these root notes. As you get better, start experimenting with the same notes in other areas. The open 2nd string is a D, but so is the 3rd string, 5th fret!
   • Work on transitioning right in time with the guitarist. You want to hit the first C note right as she hits the first C chord.
2. Time your notes up to the kick and snare drums. One of the bass's primary functions is to bridge the gap between the rhythm section (drums) and the other melody instruments (guitar, vocals, piano, etc.) To do so, you have to be locked into both, playing the right root notes to fit the melody and the right rhythm to fit the drums. Good ways to do this are to think in frequencies:
   • Play a lower note to time up with the low-frequency kick drum, hitting this deep bass not together.
   • Play a higher note (like the same note's octave) to fit in with the snare drum.
3. Learn to "walk" between notes. The walking bassline began in blues and jazz but has since expanded to all types and genres of music. It is the simplest way to bridge your root notes and start expanding your playing through songs. To begin doing so, simply try playing each fret between two notes on the same string. For example, say the song goes from an E to an A. The following "walk" helps you fill the space between changing chords:
   • G|-----------------------------|
   • D|-----------------------------|
   • A|-----------------------------|
   • E|----0--1--2--3--4--5-----|
   • You'll notice that some notes don't sound as good as others. As you get better, you'll learn to walk up and down using only the
4. Practice with a metronome, as perfect timing is essential for great bassists. You want to play limited notes, but you want every single note to hit the listener hard. The only way to do this is to keep a strong, regular rhythm, which makes practicing with a metronome essential. You should always focus on landing on the beats, practicing in 4/4, 8/8, and even 3/2 with your metronome.
   • Rock bassists tend to create a rocking, bouncing feel by landing hard on the 2nd and 4th beats.
   • Funk bassists must hit the 1st and 3rd beats harder than the other two -- this is one of the roots of the genre.
   • Reggae and ska bass tend to focus on the in-between beats -- the "1 and, 2 and, 3..." beats.
5. Change your picking location and style to change your sound. Plucking the guitar near the neck produces a warmer sound. Plucking near the bridge has a brighter and more percussive tone. And switching to a pick gives you a harder, sharper edge to your notes. If you're really looking to extend your range, you can learn to play slap bass, producing the unique, loud tones made famous in the Seinfeld soundtrack.
   • The aggressiveness you pluck with will also dramatically change the sound.
   • Palm muting is when you drape the edge of your hand on the bridge while picking, giving a quiet, percussive, and plodding sound to your notes.
   • Always think about what tone best fits the song. Harder, more rocking genres like punk tend to want louder, more percussive playing, while softer tones are used in a variety of genres.
6. Add fills -- little improvised or creative sections -- when you're given some space. When you want to add a little flourish or flair, pick moments where the band gives you space -- when there are no vocals, during moments the lead guitarist is quiet, or in and out of transitions. Fills are your chance to show off for a few notes, and they are an essential part of keeping the bass interesting without stepping on anyone's toes.
   • When playing a fill, try to time it up with a drummer's fill. This usually comes right before the song transitions in some way.
   • Remember that the roots notes are always most important. When in doubt, play the root notes.
7. Service the song instead of trying to show off. Great bass players know that they are responsible for a song's groove-- the almost subconscious feel that gets people dancing or moving. But a busy, technical, or flashy bassline is very hard to groove to and often drowns out guitar, piano, and vocal parts. A huge part of successful bass playing is showing restraint.
   • Remember -- root notes come first, forming the melodic backbone of the song. Any flourishes must come after you've mastered these notes.

Growing as a Bass Player

1. Learn the major scale to greatly increase your note range when playing. You must, at a minimum, learn the major and minor scales. These two scales, played across the guitar, can guide you throw 90% of the songs thrown your way. If a song is in the key of C-major, you have the entire C-major scale at your disposal. The following scale is for A-major, but you simply start it on whatever note you want to put it in the key of this note. Bolded notes are the roots, or the two A notes.
   • G|-----5----6---7---|
   • D|-----5----6---7---|
   • A|--4--5--------7---|
   • E|------5--------7---|
2. Master the minor scale for a slightly more moody set of notes. The minor scale generally has a "darker" or more "moody tone to it. The A-minor scale located below is a good fit for songs in A-minor. Again, bolded notes indicate root notes.
   • G|--4--5-------7------|
   • D|------5-------7------|
   • A|------5-------7--8--|
   • E|------5-------7--8--|
3. Learn how the major and minor scales are combined to play even further down the neck. This handy trick will double the number of notes at your disposal when playing songs, though it is important to note that they still have different feels. To find the notes, take the major scale in the key you're playing, for example, the A major shown above. If you start a minor scale on the second note of the major scale, in this case the 7th fret B, all of these notes will fit in your song as well!
   • Otherwise put, a song in A-major can use either the A-major scale or the B-minor scale.
   • This relationship holds up and down the fretboard.
4. Play the other notes of chords instead of just the roots. For example, you could play just A, E, and D if the chords are A7, E7, and D7. But you could also play some of those 7th notes, which simply mean the 7th note in the associated scale. So, if the guitarist is playing an A7, you can also hit the 7th not in the A-major scale (2nd string, 6th fret) to sound amazing.
   • If you're struggling with the numbers, just ask the guitarist to show you the chord. All the notes he's playing on his top four strings will match the notes on your four strings.
5. Use accenting techniques to make each note stand out. Many bassists can play 10 notes and sound good, but only the best players can play one note and make it sound amazing. Bass is a very physical instrument, and your ability to handle and manipulate the strings is how you wring emotion and power out of every note:
   • Vibrato: Keeping your finger on the string, shake your hand up and down. You should hear the note "waving" based on how high or far you shake the string.
   • Bends: With your finger on the fret, use 2-3 fingers to push the string up the neck. You should hear the note's pitch change as you bend the string. You can also pull the string downward, too.
   • Slides: Play a note and, without taking your hand off the string, slide down to the next note you want to play, fluidly transitioning down.
   • Hammer-Ons: Instead of plucking a note, slam your finger down on the string at the fret you want, sounding it out with just this hand.
   • Pull-Offs: When removing your finger from a fret, use your fretting hand to pluck the string instead of coming straight off.
6. Prioritize the 5th note of each scale when making transitions. If you stick to root notes, their octaves, and the 5th, you can create many interesting, melodic, and moving basslines. The 5th is simply the 5th note in the scale -- even if that particular chord isn't being used. You can slide the 5th note between other roots to effortlessly slid up and down the neck. Check the lick below, played over a simple C, G, D chord progression illustrated below.
   • G|------------5---------------------------------------------------------------|
   • D|---------5-----5--------------------------5--------------------------------|
   • A|----3--------------0--3--0---2-------5-----5-----------------------------|
   • E|---------------------------------------------------3----------3/10----10--|
   • |-C-Major-|-----------------|-G-Major-|--------------------|-D-Major-|
7. Mute unneeded strings with your other fingers as you play. The bass is a very low, deep frequency, and you'll notice that it shakes the room when played loud. This is great, except when that shaking sounds out the strings you aren't even playing! To avoid this, bass players must use their whole hand to keep other strings mute, which you can do by simply laying a finger on the string to keep it still:
   • When you play a note, let your finger come up, resting on the string above it to mute it. Don't pull your hand away from the guitar after plucking. Do the same thing when plucking your thumb downward, resting it on the string below.
   • Use your ring and pinky fingers to mute lower strings, resting them on all strings below the two plucking fingers.
   • Use your thumb to mute higher strings, resting it on strings above the ones you're playing.
8. Study music theory. There are endless options available to you, from new scales to modes and melodic tricks, that only come from time spent learning music theory. Start with the basics, like the circle of fifths, before moving on to scale composition and more fun tricks and tips.
   • At the very least, learn how to form the pentatonic scales, which are simplified versions of your major and minor scales.

Tips

• Research your favorite bass guitar players. Find out who their influences are and what type of bass guitar they play and what amp they play through.
• Go to concerts and bass guitar clinics to stay inspired.
• Don't get discouraged. Get through the first 6 months with at least 15-30 minutes of practice per day.

Related Articles

• Teach Yourself to Play Bass Guitar
• Play Bass Guitar Without Sheet Music
• Learn Bass Guitar Online with StudyBass.Com
• Start Playing the Bass Guitar

Sources and Citations

• Videos provided by MusicCollegeTV

See also

• Start Playing the Bass Guitar
• Teach Yourself to Play Bass Guitar
• Tune a Bass Guitar
• Change Strings on a Bass Guitar
• Play Bass
• Buy Your First Bass Guitar on a Budget
• Adjust Action on a Bass
• Warm up on Bass Guitar

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